Incubator



Oct. 17, 1933. A. P, DAVIDSON 1,930,967

INCUBATOR Filed June ll, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l Zmluumumnm IHIINIJ HN mlIN VEA/Toa.

dqlber-ZRDaI/idon.

oct. 17, 1933. A, P DAV|D5ON 4 1,930,967

INCUBATOR Filed June ll. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 [NVE/v Tof? lberl l. Davidson 9v-renner.

Patented Oct. 17, 1933 INCUBATOR Albert Porter Davidson, Center Conway,N. H. Applicata@ June 11, 193e. serial ne.. 460,432 17 claims.(01119-37) This Vinvention represents a development of and an`improvement upon'the general type ofincubator disclosedin my co-pendingapplication,

A Serial No.. 298,911, led August 11,1928.. The present invention dealswith a modied method and apparatus for heating and circulating the airdownwardly 'through the egg trays ,and back to the air heating unit,andfurther provides for thetilting of the egg trays so that the positionof the eggs may be varied at intervals in order that all parts thereofmay. be presented to the circulated warm air and maintained in anuniformly heated condition throughout. In the old style incubator, theeggs were turned by hand which required that the trays be removed fromthe incubating chamber and resulted not only in a loss'of heat, butv theloss of many eggs as Well. Y

The arrangementV of the trays and means `for -120 tilting the-samerepresent an improvement both in structure and nal satisfactory resultfrom mechanical egg tilting apparatus heretofore embodied in structuresof-the prior art `whichin combination with my novel method of Vandapparatus for-distributing the air throughout the tray stacks representsa greatly improved incubator. y

tilting apparatus 4heretofore commonly employed yhave required that'thetrays 'be suspended from a verticalV support which wasmanip-y ulatedtotip the trays to the desired extent and this necessarily requiredinvolved'mechanism requiring 'special care and adjustment. If the trayswere provided with 'a protecting frame, 'that frame also was tilted withthetrays. In my present .im/"ention,` the tray frames or supports arerigid-and the tipping of the individual trays is' possible withoutremoving the tray from the frame or tilting the frame itself. By thesimple "19 means Yemployed in my 'tray tilting apparatus Fig. 3 is atransverse sectional elevation taken on line 3-3, Fig. 4. i i

Fig.V 4 is a longitudin'al sectional 'elevation taken on line 4 4, Fig.3. i .Y y

Throughout the specification and drawings-likev Fig. 5 is a perspectiveof a framein which are mounted two egg trays. n i.

Fig. 6 is av fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation of theincubator on the li ne.66,l Fig. .3,

lshowing a frame being placed in position and the trays in horizontalposition.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatical end view of a plurali ity of the egg traysand the operating platform depicted in horizontal. and-two oppositelytilted positions, and Y i Fig. 8 is a view similar to `Fig. 3. butshowing a modified type of tray for the hatching eggs. i

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents'generally, the outside structureor body ofthe incubator and 2 the door forthe opening ythrough 70 whichaccess is had toxthe interiorrfor loading or unloading the egg trays.

Securedv to its side-walls, interiorly ofthe incubator, are a pluralityof` horizontally disposed, vertically spaced battens or :rails 33uponwhich 7 the tray-carrying frames are supported and upon which theframesmayslide while being placed in or removedl from the incubator. jvi I extend these rails for thefull `length of the sidewalls 1a in orderthatzbetter` support may beA given-a framewhen a considerable-portionof4 its length projects outwardlyfrom the'incu., bator,inwhich `positionthe egg trays may be placed in orremoved'irom theirame without thenecessity ofjcompletelywithdrawing it from the incubator.' v i i .iWithin the upper interior portion of-thein cubator. isa transversepartition 5;. in which isa relatively large opening6.- Rearwardly `ofthis partition a chamber Xis provided which serves as the initialheatingV compartmentoithe incul-Y bator.

Aligningwiththe opening 6, on the opposite side of the partition 5, is afan wheel 7 operated by an lelectric motor 8 receiving current through95 the linewires 8 and supported .by` brackets 9.

Within the chamber X and disposed adjacent the openings vis an electricheating unit 10, current for operating which is supplied through thelinewires 10.4 While in thisinstance I haveelected 100 to employ electricityasythe heat generating me` dium, it 'isobvious that steam heating coils,hot

the current of air blown by the fan wheel and f distributev it moreuniformly over the Whole sur- 1 taining access to the motor 8.

' whole tier of trays.

face of the egg trays.

Air to the interior of the incubator is admitted through the opening 12made lin the door 13, the latter being provided for the purpose of ob- Avent opening 14 in the rear lwall 1b serves as an exit for foul airandassists materially in the general air circulatory system.

, The motor 8 is partially enclosed in a chamber bounded by thevertical, longitudinally disposed partitions 15, 15 and the horizontal,transverse floor element 16, the latter joining the two members 15. Aspace intervenes between the ends of the members 15 and 16 and thepartition 5 for a purpose hereinafter to be explained.

In Fig. 5 I show one of the egg--tray-carrying frames with two eggvtrays mounted therein. The frame, designated as a whole by thecharacter F is rectangular in Ashape with open top and bottom. The frontend, Fa,'and rear end Fb have open end slots 17 inV which to receive thetrunnions 18 projecting from the end portions Ta.Y and Tb kof the eggtray T. It will be observed'that these trunnions Aare located on the eggtrays at points, vertically, below the centre line through their endportions. This has the effect of throwing them out of balance andconduces to a morerapid tilting when once they start to incline thanV ifthey were pivoted on their centers of gravity.

The trays are equipped with coarse screen bottoms Tc so that airmayfreely circulate from the heating .chamber downwardly through the Theend portions Ta and Tb` extend below the wire a distance, approximatelyone-half to three-fourths of' an inch. This not only reinforcesthevframe but lessens the necessarydepth Iof the slot '17 in which thetrunnions 18 rotate. y On the-end Tb of each trayare lugs19. While theportions. Tb and Fbv of the trayand frame, respectively, are in closestrelation, as seen `at frame B, Fig. 6, these lugs lie on the top of themember Fb, thereby preventing rotation of the tray in the frame. Thisrelation between tray and Vframe vis maintained during the operation offilling the incubatorjwith the egg-holding elements (see Fig. 6, at A),but upon its completion all the` trays in the respective frames areadvanced into the position shown at C, Fig. 6,

and at the right hand tray in Fig. 5, in which positions the trays are.capable of being rotated on their trunnions. The trays are drawnforwardly by the use of the handles 18.

' I will now describe the method and mechanism by which the rotating ortilting ofthe trays is which,'asa matter of fact may beA and preferablyis made in the form of a tray itself.Y The platform is pivoted in itsframe in substantially the same manner as are the egg trays in theirrespective frames, except that in this instance there is noreciprocatory or end-wise kmovement l between frame and platform.

In Fig. 7 the full lines depict the positions,

relatively, ofthe trays and platform vpreviously to tilting them, andwhen rotated, in either direction, so that the portions Ta and Tb of thetrays resaca? abut, no further movement in the direction of rotation ispossible.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, 22 is a horizontal shaft journaled inbearings 23. On one end of this shaft is a worm gear 24, engaging whichis a worm 25 which is fixed on the vertical shaft 26. A bevel pinion issecured on the opposite end of the shaft 26 and this pinion operates inconjunction with the bevel gear 28 the rotation of which latter iscontrolled by'a crank handle 29.

Loosely operating, respectively, over studs 30 in the platform 21 aretwo straps 31, the lower ends of which are secured on opposite sides ofvthe shaft 22. Thus when the shaft is rotated in one direction, onestrap is winding on and the other is unwindingA fromy the shaft, thestrap Vwhich is winding being' the one whichactuates the yplatform anddraws that end to which it is attached, downwardly. Thus by manipulatingthe crank handle 29 and rotating it, first in one direction Yand then inthe reverse, =the Vplatform f and egg trays may .be madeto tiltaccordingly, alternately dipping in one and .then in the'other directionfrom their horizontal positions,z\at which location thevzand the framesFma'ybexremoved from the incubator.

.Iam well aware of the fact that in winding and unwindingithe twostraps, the speed at'which they move variesexcept'atthat particularpoint when anequal amount vof:each strap overlies the shaft. Stated inother words, when-one turn of one strap .is wound over the shaft and twoor more turns of the other strap forms the drum over which the strap iswinding, the one with the most turns Willtravel faster than the other.

"Io compensate for this inconstancy or lack-of uniformity inrelativewinding speeds of the two straps, I adjust them with the partspositioned asshown in Fig. 3-.so that the ltwo straps are'ofsubstantially equal tautness, and, 4being ofthe same length, when thestraps which are shown unwound start to wind, they will maintain thistautness throughout the winding operation, `or until conditionswithrespectftorthe positions of the. parts, conversely to that shown,prevail.

Y It will vberobserved that .byempl'oying a. worm gear drive for theshaft 22 the strain on the strap which connects withthe lower end of theplatform,efor'the time being the pulling strap, is automaticallymaintained lfor the reason that the gear .is locked against rotation bythe worm,

InV lieuof the straps 81 I may use a wire yrope whichmight in size bejoflone-.eighth to onequarter of Aan inch. -With wire rope the coils wouldnot wind ontop of each other and there would be no need for equalizingmechanism'. Either straps or wire rope maybe utilized in .my machine.While I have shown the shaft 22 and operating parts near the front ofthe trays it will be understood v,that these may as yeffectively ybepositionedv vat the rear. Infact there is advantage in so Ipositioningthese parts as by so doingA the space in front of the trays Would-be'left clear for a moisture pan if need be.

In arranging the frames F in the incubator it is .desirable, in sofar'as-is possible, that their front ends present a continuous surface,.constituting 'to all intents and purposes a partition bounding on oneside the chamber Y.- It is-necessary, however, in order to insert theframes F in the incubator to notch the top corners, at Fc, so thatthe-upwardly extending front ends of the 'framesV may clear the railsV 3as they are moved K into the incubator toV the depth of the chamber Y.Thus, with a substantially closed end tothe 15n vertical tier ofVframes, aligningewithfthe partition 5, the heated air from the chamberXmay pass downwardly through the wholeassembly of trays and frames intothe chamber Z and thence towardthe front end and upwardly'through thechamber Y. By leaving a space betweeny the innerends Vof themotorchamberelements 15 and 16 the current of air continues and again-entersV thechamber X by way of the opening 6 completely and Yeffectivelycirculating throughout the whole apparatus. 1

To regulate andA control vthe temperature 'of the interior of theincubator I employ a thermostatically operated switch mechanism 32,placing it, preferably within the Vchamber X.

-The hatching trays H in the small or single tiered machines such as areillustrated in the drawings are disposed under the tilting mechanism.YThese may embody'the'same general type o1' trays as the trays` T but ofVgreater depth in order to provide head room for the chick, orI may use asingle large hatchingtray which extends across the housing from wall towall. i

My invention is capable of being embodied in a compartment incubator inwhich a plurality of sections similar to that disclosed in Fig. lrmay bearranged end to end or at right angles to each other; YIn this case Ishould provide an `entire section devoted to hatching in which thehatching trays H of satisfactory depth may all be brought togetherll'Ihis would be of advantage not only in convenience of handling thetrays ,and chicks but would keep the loose down of the chicks away fromthe incubating eggs which would greatly improve the sanitation of theincubators. In such an assembly ythe hatching trays might be of the typeof tray illustrated orv instead of two trays I'would preferably use onelarge tray which would extend from wall to wall of the housing and bearVon the cleats or rails 3. With such an incubating tray a frame isunnecessary as the horizontal edges of the adjoining trays would abutand provide a vwallfor the air return passage Y.

I claim: i

1. In an incubator comprising a walled housing provided'with air inletland outlet openings, a series of superimposed tray supportsv mounted onopposite walls of said housing and spaced from topand bottom thereof toleave chambers `above and below the same and spaced from one wall -ofsaid-housing whereby a passage is defined between said wall and supportsa series of superimposed egg trays removably mounted on said supports,means for heating the air within saidl top chamberfdisposed adjacent theair inlet opening and offset as to said top chamber, and means carriedby saidhousing and 'disposed between said heating unit and said airinlet openingto drive a current of fresh air against said heating unit,and means in thetop chamber'adapted to distribute-thel airv evenlythroughout said trays.

2. In an incubator comprisinga walled housing provided with air inletand outlet openings, a series of tray supports mounted on opposite.walls of said housing and'spaced from top and bottom.

thereof to leave chambers above and below the tray stacks, and spacedfrom one wall of said housing whereby a passage is `defined between saidwall and egg tray supports, a series of superimposed egg trays removablymounted in said supports, means for heating the air within said topchamber disposed adjacent the air inlet `opening laterally of said topchamber, a fan between'said heating unit and said'air inlet opening todrive a currentzof fresh. air against said heating unit, and baiileplates in said top chamber -inwardly of said air heating 'means to causean evendis-l provided with air inlet and outlet openings, au series oftray supports mounted on opposite wallsv of said housing and spaced fromtop and bottom thereof to leave chambers aboveand below Athe tray stack,and spaced from one wall of said housing. whereby a passage is vdefinedbetween said wall and egg tray supports, egg trays Vremovably mountedvin said supports, means forA heating the' airvwithin said top chamberdisposed.

adjacent thel air inlet opening laterally of vsaid tion of the airthrough said trays,'and apartition beneath said fan and said air openingand above,v

said return air passage `whereby the airretu'rning V,through saidpassage is guided into said top chamber and is` again distributeddownwardly through. said egg trays.

4.' `In an incubator comprising a walled housing provided with air inletand outlet-openings, a.VV

series ofsuperimposed tray supports mounted on opposite Vwalls of saidhousing and spaced from top and bottom thereof'to leave chambers aboveand below the tray stack, andspaced from one' wall of saidhousing'whereby a passageA is defined between said wall and eggtraysupports, a series of superimposed egg trays `removably mounted on`said tray supports, means forheating thefair within said top chambercomprising .an electrical. heating unitdisposed adjacent the air inletopen-5 in'g and laterally `of said topchamber, a fan between Ysaidheating unit and said airv inlet openingl to drive a current of freshair against 4said heatingunit,` bale plates `of increasing height asthey are distant from 'said vfan in said top chamber to cause an evendistribution of the air through said tray stack, anda thermostatgzinsaid top chamberelectrically connectedzto said gheating unit to turn offsaid heater whenta predetermined temperature isreached. i,

5. In an incubator, comprising a=walled hous-` ging,V andjan egg trayVcarrying frame`,supported thereby, an veggtrayA securedv Vinsaid'carrying extending lugs adapted to overlie the'topof the,

frame member yduringthe operation-of llingthe l lying in` aplanefcoincident with'a vertical plane, passing through `thelongitudinal median line of the tray, saidtrunnions Aextending from theend Yportions of said tray andadapted tdbear in'saidY open-endedslots`in said trayjrame, said-trunnions beingV adaptedk to throw said trayout fof'l balance andjcause a rapid' tilting thereof: onceI i incubator,trunnions carried by said egg tray and the opposite direction is unwoundfrom saidshaft,

form in said frame, said series of trays being superimposed on saidplatform, bearings carried by said incubator housing, a horizontal shaftjournaled in saidl bearingsmeans for vrotating said shaft, and meanscarried by said platform and engaging said shaft whereby said trays aretilted according to the rotation of said shaft.

7. In an incubator comprising a walled housing, a series of superimposedtray-supports carried by opposite walls of said housing, a series ofsuperimposed egg trays mounted on said supports, said trays beingtiltable in said supports, and tray tilting means comprising a framepositioned beneath said tray supports, a pivotal platform in said frame,said series of trays being superimposed on said platform, bearingscarried by said incubator housing, a horizontal shaft journaled in saidbearings, means for rotating said shaft, and means carried by saidplatform and engaging said shaft whereby said trays are tilted accordingto the rotationof said shaft, said means limiting the rotation of saidshaft in either direction.

8. vIn an incubator comprising a walled housing, a series ofsuperimposed tray supports carried by opposite walls of said housing, aseries of superimposed egg trays mounted on said sup-v ports, said/traysbeing tiltable in said supports, and tray tilting means comprisingaframe posi- L tioned beneath said tray supports, a pivotal platform insaid frame, said series of trays being superimposed on said platform, ahorizontal shaft rotatably journaled in said casing, means for rotatingsaid shaft, and a flexible member having fone end secured to saidplatform, and its other.

secured to said "shaft whereby as said shaft is rotated in onedirection'said member is wound around said shaft, and when rotated in theopposite direction is unwound and said platformv i and superimposed egg`trays are tilted accordingly, and means for returning said platform andcomprising 'a pivotal platform, said series -of traysv beingsuperimposed on Vsaid platform, a horilzontal shaft rotatably journaledin said casing,

means for rotating said shaft, and a flexible member having one endsecured to said platform andV its other-end secured'to said shaftwhereby when said shaft is rotated in one direction said member is woundabout said shaft and ywhen rotated in and said platform and superimposedegg trays'are tilted accordingly, and means for returning said platformand'tray to horizontal position and tilting them in the oppositedirection as said member isunwound from said shaft.

l0. In Yan incubator comprising a walled housing, a series Vofsuperimposed egg trays tiltably Ymountedin said housing, and traytilting means comprising a pivotal platform beneath said trays,

said series of trays being superimposed on said platform, a horizontalshaft journaled in said casing, and means for rotating said shaft, apair of flexible members, one secured to either end of 'said platform,the lower ends of said straps being secured on opposite sides of saidshaft whereby when said shaft is rotated in one direction one strap iswinding around and the other l is unwinding from said shaft, and saidplatform and ysuperimposed egg ltrays aremade to tiltaccordingly. f

11. In an incubator comprising a walled housing, a series ofsuperimposed traysupports rcar-l ried by opposite walls of said housingaseriesV of superimposed egg trays mounted on said supports, said traysbeing tiltable in said supports,v a pivotal platform,A said series oftrays being superim-i posed on said platform, a horizontal shaft rotat,ably journaled in said casing and means for rotating said shaft, a pairof flexible members, one secured to either end of said platform, thelower endsof said members being secured on opposite sides of said shaftwhereby when saidshaft is rotated in one direction onemember yisVwinding around and thevother isunwinding from `said shaft, `and saidplatform and superimposed eggtrays are made to tilt accordingly.

12. In an incubator comprisinga walled housing, a series of superimposedtray. supports carried by opposite walls of said housing, a series ofsuper? imposed egg trays mounted on said supports, said trays beingtiltable in said supports, and tray tilting means comprising a frame,positionedbeneath said tray supports, a pivotal platform in said frame,said series of trays beingsuperimposed on said platform, bearingscarried by ysaid incubator casing, a horizontal shaft, and a pair ofstraps, one secured to either end of said plat-fform, the lower ends ofsaid straps being ysecured on,y opposite sides of said shaftwhereby'when said shaft is rotated in one direction one strap is Winding'around and the other lis unwindingv from said shaft, and said platformand superimposed egg trays are made to tilt accordingly.-v

13. In an incubator comprising a walled housing, an egg tray carryingframe mounted on said housing, an egg tray in said frame, said trayhaving rearwardly extending lugs Aadaptedto overliel the frame duringthe operation of filling the incubator, and means whereby said lugs areplaced over and `removed from said frame. l l

Y14:. In `an incubatorcomprisinga Walled hous-l ing, an egg traycarrying frame lmounted-onsaid housing, the front and rear ends of rsaidrframe having open-ended slots, an egg tray secured in said egg frame,said tray havinggrearwardly extending lugs adapted to-overlie the,

frame during the operation offilling thein.

cubator, means carriedV by said tray'and extending from the ends thereofadaptedr to turn lin said having open-ended slots, an egg tray in'v saidframe, said tray havingk rearwardly extending lugs adapted to overliethe rear end of said frame during the operation ofv filling theincubator, trunnions carried vby said egg tray and lying. in a pianecoincident with a vertical plane passing through'the longitudinalmedianline of the tray and extending fromV thel ends of the tray andadapted to turn Yin said open ended slots, and means whereby saidlugs-are removed from vthe rear ends,l of said frame. and said .trayreturned to tiltable position in said frame.A

16. An incubator comprising a walled housing, a tray support mounted onoppositewalls'fof said housing and having open ended vslots in :its`front `andrear ends, said housing `having `a pocket'in alignment withthe slot in the rear end lll@ of superimposed egg trays removablymounted on said supports and having end, sidel and bottom members,trunnions projecting `from the ends of the trays at points below thecentres of gravity thereof and turnable in said slots, the ends of saidtrays extending below the bottoms `a predetermined amount whereby thetrays are spaced from each other the distance required to limit thetilting of the trays in either direction.

ALBERT PORTER DAVIDSON. Y

